" The very
form of the expression in the first clause indicates that it is
possible to be sanctified wholly and possible to be sanctified
partially. All Christians are cleansed from the pollution of sins
committed, that is to say, from the pollution they have acquired by
actually sinning. And thus the Corinthians are addressed by Paul as
sanctified, although, manifestly, many of them were not holy in heart
and life. On the other hand, the apostle prays that the Thessalonians
may be sanctified wholly, although as a church they were already in a
healthy and prosperous condition, the only exception being a few
members who were too neglectful of their outward business and too much
disposed to be busy-bodies. So we may conclude, without hesitation,
that all Christians are partially sanctified, while many good
Christians are not wholly sanctified.
But provision was made in the gospel for the entire sanctification of
all believers, otherwise Paul would not have prayed for it. And not
only for their entire sanctification as a definite, instantaneous act
of God, as shown by the Greek tense, but, also, for their continual
preservation in blamelessness, though not in faultlessness, until the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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